Device for dividing coins into groups



Sept. 18, 1956 A. FREI 2,763,273

DEVICE FOR DIVIDING COINS INTO GROUPS AND FOR PACKING SUCH GROUPS Filed May 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 5

AH or nay s Sept. 18, 1956 A. FREl DEVICE FOR DIVIDING cows INTO GROUPS AND FOR PACKING sucn GROUPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 18, 1953 United States PatentO DEVICE FOR DIVIDING COINS-INTO GROUPS' AND FOR PACKING SUCH GROUPS Albert Frei, Zurich, Switzerland Application May 18, 1953, Serial No. 355,653 Claims priority, application Switzerland .May'30, 1952' 4 Claims, (Cl. 133-8) The invention relates to a device for dividing coins of different values into groups of the same value'and for packing the said coins of the type according to my Letters Patent No. 2,566,935, which issued September 4, 1951.

The object of the invention is to simplify the dividing of relatively large quantities of coins of different values into groups and the packing thereof, and thus to shorten the time required therefor. For this purpose, in a device of-the aforementioned type according to the invention the longitudinal axes of the compartments of the coin container and the axes of the holes in the dividing plate, which is mounted in the inclined hypotenuse of the body in the forrrr of a right-angled triangle, each form a right angle with the hypotenuse, and furthermore the coin container can be displaced along two rails provided at each side of the said body and extending parallel to the inclined hypotenuse. Ejectors are further provided in connection with the coin container, the said ejectors, when the coin container is moved along its rails, pushing the groups of coins, which have fallen out of the'coin container and through the holes in the dividing plate, along guide rails arranged above each other into holders.

One constructional form of the subject of the invention is shown by way of example, partly in simplified form, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view along the line I-I of Fig. 2 of a device for dividing coins of five different values into groups and for packing these groups,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the said device,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III- 111 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the coin container and of a locking member guided therein, both the dividing plate provided with holes for' letting the coins through and parts of the side walls of the device being shown in chain-dotted lines;

Fig. 5 is a view on a larger scale of two members for securing the coin container, and

Fig. 6 is a plan view or horizontal sectional view, also on a larger scale, of parts of the holder magazine and five holders, together with the right-hand end of a guide rail.

In the figures, 1 designates a wedge-shaped body'substantially in the shape of right-angled triangle. In the direction of its hypotenuse, which forms a sloping plane, there is arranged on the said body 1 a dividing plate 2 in which there are provided five rows of holes 2 2 2 2 and 2 extending parallelly in the longitudinal direction of the said dividing plate. The round holes in the same row are all of the same size, their diameter being only slightly larger than that of a specific coin. value. On the other hand the diameters of the round holes of the five rows 2 2 2 2 and 2 vary in size from row to row. In the longitudinal direction of the plate 2 there further extend five longitudinal slots 3 3 3 3 and 3 the longitudinal axis of the slot 3 coincidingwith the longitudinal axis of the row of holes 2 Sectors of 2,763,273 Patentd septi 18, 1956 2 the said'slot 3 connect each two adjacent holes of the row 2 The longitudinal axis of the slot 3 in its turn coincides withthe longitudinal axis of the row of holes 2 sectors of the said slot connecting each two adjacent holesof the row 2 and so on;

Furthermore, 4 designates a coin container adapted to receive a removable insert element 4 The latter is subdivided into five compartments 4 4 4 4 and 4 that is the insert element 4 hasas many compartments as there are rows of holes in the dividing plate 2. The compartments 4. 4 4 4 4 are of a round crosssection, extend through the'entire height of the container 4, and are open atthe top. The'dia'meter of the compartment 4 correspondssubstantially to the diameter of the holes in the row ofholes 2 the-diameter of the compartment 4 on the other hand corresponds substantially to the diameter of the holes in the row of holes 2 and so on. The coin container 4 can be moved on rollers 5 along two tracks (Fig. 3) arranged on either side ofthe body 1, parallel'to theinclined hypotenuse of the said body 1. The arrangement-is therefore such that the longitudinal axes of the compartments 4 4 4 4 and 4 and the axes of theholes of the rows of holes 2 2 2 2 and 2' form a right angle with the said hypotenuse. A base plate 4 is connected to the lower part of the coin container 4-by means of-webs4" (Fig. 3), thesaid base plate extending-parallel to the dividing plate 2 and abutting snugly against the underside thereof. A slot 4 is provided in thediv'iding plate 2 for each of the webs 4' in order that, when the coin container 4 is moved, the base plate 4 can be moved' alongwith' it.

The-number of coins which can fall out of one compartment of the container 4, i. e. its insert element 4 into each of the holes provided in the dividing plate 2 for that particular compartment and remain piled therein in a group, until the appropriate hole below is freed underneath by the base' plate 4 depends on the distance between the lower opening ofthe said'compartment and the base plate 4 this distance can, for example, correspond to the height of fi've piled coins of a particular value.

Inestablishingtheaforesaid distance it must be borne in mind that the coins diifer in thickness from one value to another and the individual coins moreover may have been subject to various degrees of wear and tear, further that the' topmost coin of the groups piled in the holes of the dividing plate 2 must not project in the least into acompartment ofthe insert element 4 and finally that all groups must comprise the same number of coins, for example five pieces. To meet these various requirements, the space or gap between the under surface of the insert element 4 and the dividing plate 2 is difierently dimensioned in the transversedirection of the said plate, the said gap being greater over a hole of the dividing plate in which relatively thick coins are to be piled than over a hole in which relatively thin coins are to be piled. In order to achieve this the dividing plate 2 can, for one thing, be somewhat thinner in the vicinity of holes of the first-mentioned kind than in the vicinity of holes of the type mentioned second, and, for another thing, the part of the insert element twhich comes to be situated opposite a hole of the type mentioned second can extend somewhat further downwards than the part of the insert element which comes to be situated oppo' site a hole of the first-mentioned type. What is described in this paragraph is not shown in the figures, since the differences in the dimensions in question of the said gap ofthe dividing plate '2 and'the insert element 4 cannot be represented with suflicient distinctness in the scale which has been chosen. In Fig. 3 th'esaid gap has been shownsomewhat greater than it a'ctually' is, for the sake of clarity.

In the coin container 4 five vertical ejectors arranged in a row are movably disposed in such a manner that when the cotainer 4 is displaced they can move up and down in their guide mountings, each ejectors 6 also passing transversely through one of the longitudinal slots 3 3 3 3 3 With each of the hole rows 2 2 2 2 2 are associated ten superimposed pairs of rails 7 7 7 7 7 All these pairs of rails are secured to the body 1, and between the two halves of each pair of rails a through longitudinal slot 8 (Figs. 2 and 6) is provided. All pairs of rails are horizontally arranged and the ten pairs of rails forming each group are arranged step-wise above each other in such a way that their ends lie one above each other at the right-hand end, while they extend on the other side to the left-hand edge of an associated hole provided in the dividing plate 2. All longitudinal slots 8 of the rail pairs of each of the groups 7 7 7 7 7 are situated one above the other, and as, if Fig. 2 is referred to, they form a line with one of the slots 3 3 3 3 3 of the dividing plate 2, the ejectors 6 can also move to and from in the longitudinal slots 8 when the coin container 4 is being displaced. When the coin container 4 is displaced to the right the ejectors 6 push the coins which have fallen out of the said container 4 through the holes in the dividing plate 2 on to the aforementioned pairs of rails along these rails, which serve as tracks, into holders 9 serving for packing the coins which are now divided up into groups. In order to facilitate the fastening of the said holders to the groups of rail pairs 7 7 7 7 7 the individual rail pairs are somewhat tapered at the right-hand end (see more particularly the left part of Fig. 6 in this connection).

In order to make it possible to fill the container 4 wholly or partly with coins before arranging it on the body 1, and furthermore to prevent coins falling out while the container 4 is being carried about, mounted and removed, there are provided at the lower end of the said container slot-like guides (Fig, 1) into which a plate 10 can be slid. In its inserted position shown in Fig. 1 the plate 10 closes the compartments 4 4 4 4 4 of the container 4 at the bottom.

In the container 4 there is moreover displaceably arranged, at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the compartments of the said container, a locking member 11. This member 11 has, in the longitudinal direction of the hole rows 2 2 2 2 2 in the dividing plate 2, projections 12 extending between the said dividing plate and the bottom 4 of the coin container. In the one end position of the member 11, i. e. in the pushed in position with respect to the container 4, the projections 12 prevent the coins from falling into the holes in the dividing plate 2, which for example must be the case if the container 4 still containing coins is to be moved from the upper end of the hypotenuse of the body 1 towards the lower end thereof. If on the other hand the locking member 11 is in the pulled out position with respect to the container 4 as shown in Fig. 1, these projections 12 allow the coins to pass through the holes of the dividing plate 2. In this position the left end of the locking member 11 is, at 11 detachably connected to the coin container 4; when the container 4 is moved upwards along the hypotenuse the said locking member is then held firmly in the desired position relatively to the container, carrying out the same movements as the container 4. Only at the end of the aforementioned upwards movement, that is, when the container 4 has reached its upper end position on the inclined hypotenuse, do two studs 13 (Figs. land 5) provided on the locking member 11 snap into resiliently h fashioned clips 14 associated with the said studs and arranged on the body 1, the locking member 11 thereupon remaining detachably connected with the stationary body 1 until the said connection is released by the intervention of the person operating the device. The aforementioned detachable connection between the locking member 11 and the coin container 4 is formed in a similar manner as that just described.

In the right-hand part of the base, which is formed as a bed plate, of the body 1 there are arranged rails 15 which serve as guides for a longitudinally movable magazine 16 in which holders 9 are stored for packing the divided coins. On the magazine 16, and opposite each group of super-imposed guide rails 7 7 7 7 7 there are provided two pairs of superimposed, horizontally projecting rods 17. On to the two rods 17 of each pair holders 19 of frame-shaped construction to be stored are pressed by a spring force which urge the wings of the said holders towards each other, the said holders being thus carried by the rods 17 until, after the holder magazine 16 has abutted against the adjacent, somewhat tapered ends of the rail pairs of the groups 7 7 7 7 7 and subsequently been moved backwards, the holder 9 of the various holder groups which is situated nearest to the said ends is left suspended on the rail ends concerned (see the right-hand part of Fig. 6).

The coins which have been divided up into groups with the help of the dividing plate 2 and the base plate 4 are pushed by the ejectors 6, when the coin container 4 is moved upwards along the inclined hypotenuse, along the rail pairs 7 7 7 7 7 into the holders 9 suspended on the right-hand ends of the rail groups, the said holders being sub-divided into as many divisions as there are rail pairs in the aforementioned groups. As soon as the provided number of coins has been pushed into the holders 9 the latter are removed by hand from the rail pairs, the coins remaining packed in the holders concerned.

In certain cases it may be suficient to provide only one pair of horizontal rods 17 opposite each group of superimposed rail pairs.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a body in the form of a right-angled triangle; tracks arranged on said body parallel to its inclined hypotenuse; a coin container subdivided into compartments of diflerent cross-sections extending through the entire height of the container and open at both ends, this container being guided by said tracks; a dividing plate mounted in the hypotenuse of said body and provided with as many rows of holes as there are compartments in said coin container, the holes in the same row being all of the same size and the cross-sections of the holes of the different rows varying from row to row, the cross-section of the holes of a particular row corresponding to that of an associated compartment of said holder and the longitudinal axes of the compartments and the axes of the holes in said dividing plate each being normal to the dividing plate, said dividing plate being further provided with as many longitudinal slots as there are rows of holes and the longitudinal axes of each of these slots coinciding with the longitudinal axes of an associated row of holes; ejectors arranged on said container and corresponding in number to the number of compartments of the latter, each ejector passing transversely through one of said longitudinal slots; groups of superimposed pairs of rails secured to said triangle-shaped body, each group being associated with one of said hole rows and comprising as many pairs of rails as the associated row has holes; holders adapted to be carried by the ends of said guide rails and subdivided into a number of divisions corresponding to the number of guide rails of said groups of rails, said ejectors pushing, when the coin container is displaced along said tracks, the groups of coins which have fallen out of the container and through the holes in the dividing plate, along said guide rails into said holders; and a locking member which is displaceable in said coin container at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the compartments thereof, has projections extending underneath the compartments of the coin-container and riding in said longitudinal slots of the dividing plate, the said projections allowing coins to fall into the holes in the dividing plate when the locking member is in one end position and, on the other hand, preventing this when the locking member is in the other end position.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which the locking member in the end position in which it allows coins to fall into the holes in the dividing plate, is detachably connected to the coin container and therefore carries out the same movements as the said container until the coin container has reached its upper end position on the inclined hypotenuse, in which position the locking member then becomes detachably connected to an abutment on the body in the form of a right-angled triangle.

3. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a body in the form of a right-angled triangle and having a base formed as a bed-plate; tracks arranged on said body parallel to its inclined hypotenuse; a coin container subdivided into compartments of different cross-sections extending through the entire height of the container and open at both ends, this container being guided by said tracks; a dividing plate mounted in the hypotenuse of said body and provided with as many rows of holes as there are compartments in said coin container, the holes in the same row being all of the same size and the cross-sections of the holes of the different rows varying from row to row, the cross-section of the holes of a particular row corresponding to that of an associated compartment of said holder and the longitudinal axes of the compartments and the axes of the holes in said dividing plate each being normal to the dividing plate, said dividing plate being further provided with as many longitudinal slots as there are rows of holes and the longitudinal axes of each of these slots coinciding with the longitudinal axes of an associated row of holes; ejectors arranged on said container and corresponding in number to the number of compartments of the latter, each ejector passing transversely through one of said longitudinal slots; groups of superimposed pairs of rails secured to said triangle-shaped body, the free end of these rails being somewhat tapered and each group of superimposed pairs of rails being associated with one of said hole rows and comprising as many pairs of rails as the associated row has holes; holders of frame-shaped construction having wings urged by a spring force to- Ward each other, each of these holders being subdivided into a number of divisions corresponding to the number of guide rails of said groups of rails, said ejectors pushing, when the coin container is displaced along said tracks, the groups of coins which have fallen out of the container and through the holes in the dividing plate, along said guide rails into said holders; a holder magazine displaceably arranged on said bed-plate; at least one pair of horizontally projecting rods provided on said holder magazine opposite each group of superimposed guide rails, the wings of the holders carried by a pair of projecting rods being pressed by said spring force on to the rods concerned and such holders being thus detachably carried in groups by said projecting rods until, after the holder magazine has abutted against the adjacent, tapered ends of the groups of rail pairs and has subsequently been moved backward, the holder in the various holder groups which is situated nearest to the said ends is left suspended on the rail ends concerned.

4. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a body in the form of a right-angled triangle; tracks arranged on said body parallel to its inclined hypotenuse; a coin container subdivided into compartments of difierent cross-sections extending through the entire height of the container and open at both ends, this container being guided by said tracks; a plurality of vertical guide-ways carried by said coin-container; a dividing plate mounted in the hypotenuse of said body and provided with as many rows of holes as there are compartments in said coin container, the holes in the same row being all of the same size and the cross-section of the holes of the ditterent rows varying from row to row, the cross-section of the holes of a particular row corresponding to that of an associated compartment of said holder and the longitudinal axes of the compartments and the axes of the holes in said dividing plate each being normal to the dividing plate, said dividing plate being further provided with as many longitudinal slots as there are rows of holes and the longitudinal axes of each of these slots coinciding with the longitudinal axes of an associated row of holes; ejectors corresponding in number to the number of compartments of said container and comprising vertical rods confined by but movable freely through said guide-ways of the container and extending through said longitudinal slots in the dividing plate into guiding contact with the horizontal bottom of said body in the form of a right-angled triangle; groups of superimposed pairs of rails secured to said triangle-shaped body, each group being associated with one of said hole rows and comprising as many pairs of rails as the associated row has holes; and holders adapted to be carried by the ends of said guide rails and subdivided into a number of divisions corresponding to the number of guide rails of said groups of rails, said ejectors pushing, when the coin container is displaced along said tracks, the groups of coins which have fallen out of the container and through the holes in the dividing plate, along said guide rails into said holders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,347,179 Schnitzspahn July 20, 1920 2,566,935 Frei Sept. 4, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 59,489 Austria of 1911 

